EPA proposes ‘first ever’ emissions standards for power plants

The Washington Post, 17 March 2011

Publié le :
17 mars 2011

Darryl Fears

"The Environmental Protection Agency released a plan Wednesday that would reduce emissions of mercury and other toxins from coal-burning power plants, drawing praise from health officials and condemnation from some industry representatives and lawmakers.

"EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson said the first ever national standard for harmful power plant emissions was 20 years in the making and was required by the 1990 Clean Air Act. The plan would force plants to purchase scrubbers and other equipment to prevent 91 percent of mercury from coal from being released into the air.

"Today we're taking an important step forward to protect the health of millions of Americans, Jackson said in an address at the agency's headquarters. She repeated the EPA's position that controlling pollution prevents thousands of premature deaths as well as childhood asthma."